3 More Countries That Hate the United States Thanks to the NSA

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While a certain level of international espionage is to be expected amongst countries without concrete relationships, should the same go for nations that are longtime allies? Thanks to the oft-maligned NSA, the United States is learning the hard way that invading your friends’ privacy is bound to blow up in your face.

Recently, three trusted allies of the United States have discovered that they aren’t so trusted after all. Here are three of the diplomatic relations messes in progress:

1. Mexico

The NSA stands accused of routinely spying on our neighbors to the south, specifically the government officials. The security agency was able to hack into the emails of then-president Felipe Calderon, as well as other members of the Mexican Cabinet. Among Snowden’s recent leaks is an email from President Enrique Pena Nieto that discusses potential Cabinet selections a month before he was elected.

Unsurprisingly, Mexico is super displeased with this breach of trust. “This practice is unacceptable, illegitimate, and against Mexican and international law,” declared Mexico’s foreign ministry. “In a relationship between neighbors and partners, there is no room for the practices alleged to have taken place.”

2. Brazil

Brazil’s government has similarly been the subject of the NSA’s watchful eyes. Though diplomatic relations between Brazil and the Untied States have been fine, Brazil believes it was targeted for “economic motivations.” Specifically, evidence shows that the NSA gathered extensive intelligence from emails and phone calls on Petrobras, an oil company owned by the Brazilian government.

The fall-out from the revelation is nothing to shrug at. Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff cited this surveillance as his reason for canceling a trip to Washington D.C. last month and instead speak harshly about the American spying program to the United Nations. “Tampering in such a manner in the affairs of other countries is a breach of international law and is an affront of the principles that must guide the relations among them, especially among friendly nations,” Rousseff said.

Secretary of the State John Kerry is currently in France for unrelated matters and is expected to meet with officials to discuss the latest leak. In the meantime, French official Alexandre Giorgini has cast a warning: “These kinds of practices between partners are totally unacceptable and we must be assured that they are no longer being implemented.” The interior minister has also made it known that this infringement will “require explanation.”

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Although Edward Snowden’s leaks have given these three countries specific evidence of spying, the United States is almost certain to face questions from many of its allies. If the United States is watching its friends like France and Mexico, it’s not much of a leap for allies to believe they are having their non-threatening communications monitored as well. Worse yet, it’s probably an even safer assumption for enemies of the United States to believe they are being spied on given how they treat their own allies.

Though the NSA was established with the supposed intention of offering “security” to the American people, it’s time for the United States to face the reality that the no-limits surveillance program is doing more harm than good. Over time, broken relationships like these will make the United States a more vulnerable nation than terrorist threats ever could. There’s no use in taking drastic measures to thwart enemies if the United States is just creating more enemies in the process.

Scott h.: Your statement " NSA has a specific purpose that is terrorism and the interests of the United States." is laughable. (Sorry.) What is in the BEST interest of the United States is that our government adhere to Rule of Law and obey the Constitution. Weather we agree that the tenets of the Constitution are relevant or not is a discussion for the citizens who OWN this country - US! - Not some politician or entity we have placed in a position of authority. NO ONE - NO GOVERNMENT has the right to violate rule of law and the Constitution! General Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, lied in 2012 that the NSA does not hold data on US citizens, and repeated similar misstatements, under oath, to Congress about the program: "Were not authorized to do it [data collection on US citizens], nor do we do it." This man sat in front of Congress and outright lies! And there has been NO accountability and NO outrage! This man should be arrested for treason! Generals, Directors nor anyone else are entitled by ANY law to lie to Congress!!! And people should be asking "What ELSE are they lying about!"

Well..Obama has done it again..redeemed his image in the world...Somalia..two dead Al Queda..Obama is the Sun..how does that sit David F..talk about pulling a "rabbits out of the hat" "If hypocrisy was fire??????? the NSA would be the sun " That's what they will tell us.

ROFL All these countries have intel services. They all spy on each other as well. This is so ignorant that is a a joke to anyone with knowledge. Some people are so blind that it will take another 9/11 for the memo to be read.
NSA has a specific purpose that is terrorism and the interests of the United States. Allies are often at odds over many different issues. Nothing new here at all.

The US needs to leave the rest of the world alone to fix their own problems, instead of stepping in to do it for them... the US has enough problems at home to fix - Education, Health, Economy... but really, why is everyone so surprised that the government is "spying" on their friends, and enemies, I might add... do you honestly think the other guys aren't spying on the US? You can add Venezuela to the list of countries that don't like the US.. at least outwardly.. I don't see an of these countries tearing up their visas or breaking off diplomatic relations..or in Venezuela's case, selling them oil.. dollars are too nice to have... remember the saying - Keep your friends close and your enemies closer still....

Obama Berlin 2013 Our current programs are bound by the rule of law, and they're focused on threats to our security, not the communications of ordinary persons. ----- But we must accept the challenge that all of us in democratic governments face: to listen to the voices who disagree with us; to have an open debate about how we use our powers and how we must constrain them; and to always remember that government exists to serve the power of the individual, and not the other way around.
NSA spied on 60 million Spanish phone calls in one month. BBC (for whatever that is worth) Mr Obama was told in 2010 about German Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone surveillance and failed to stop it. The spy row has led to one of the worst diplomatic crises between the two countries in recent times.
Obama says its not his fault because he did not know about it. "If hypocrisy was fire, Obama would be the sun."